> 11.1.2 - Can I have any kind of graphics without X? > > Assuming you won't accept ASCII graphics, that requires some kind of > framebuffer console driver. Some operating systems provide this, but > there is not currently one for OpenBSD, nor is there much interest > among developers for one. > > Except doesn't drm(4) enable console framebuffer stuff now? Maybe we > can't do vesa/fbdev or whatever like linux can, but I'm not sure this > answer is still correct. > > Thoughts?
That FAQ entry has been a bit of a lie since forever, and reflects the i386/amd64-centric mindset of many people. The OpenBSD platforms running on the true graphical workstations of the late 80's, early 90's have always had a framebuffer console and wsdisplay(4) provides interfaces to map this so you can change the pixels. With inteldrm(4) and radeondrm(4), i386/amd64 has finally caught up. In principle this means you can use the interfaces provided by drm(4) to map the framebuffer and even do fancy 3D stuff without running X. I haven't provided the glue to expose those framebuffers through wsdisplay(4) yet though. But at least one OpenBSD developer is interrested in doing so. I think most OpenBSD developers still prefer a standard vga text console, since it scrolls much faster. But more and more i386/amd64 machines come with UEFI and boot into framebuffer mode unless you switch them into legacy BIOS mode. And it is only a matter of time before that gets broken. Given the engineering standards of today's computer industry, I expect that to happen in the very near future.
